Community Web Pages

Introduction

The Rockville Community Network is dedicated to creating a web presence for Rockville community organizations. To that end, RockNet will provide web space to non-profit organizations that are associated with Rockville. RockNet will also create a link on our web pages to your web pages, even if your web pages are on another system on the Internet.

If your organization would like to host some web pages on the RockNet site, just print the Community Organization Form, fill it out, and mail it to:

        RockNet
        111 Maryland Ave.
        Rockville, MD 20850-2364

You have two options for establishing your web pages on the RockNet site.

1. The RockNet web administrator will post your web pages for you.  You may put your web pages on a diskette and  mail them to RockNet or drop them off at City Hall.   Or you can e-mail the pages as attachments to comments@rocknet.org.
   
2. If you want to administer your pages directly, you can apply for an account.  With an account, you will be able to copy your pages to your assigned directory through the Internet.  To get an account, just print the Web Server Account Form, fill it out, and mail it to RockNet.  You will be contacted in a few days with your account password.

In either case, you will be contacted by a RockNet participant who will help you develop your web pages.  When  developing your web pages, you should review the following considerations. The HTML template will help you get started.

General Considerations

When creating web pages to be hosted on the RockNet Web site, you need to consider the following.

• Your organization can have a collection of web pages and images, but are limited to reasonable disk space (less than 10 MB).
• Your organization will be given a separate directory within the RockNet directory structure.
• Plan to revise some of your pages monthly, with a major redesign annually.
• Limit the use of dated material that would be quickly out of date, unless you plan to update them frequently.
• Keep material free of litigation inducing comments -- RockNet is an attempt to build community, not exacerbate differences.
• Your web pages are primarily your responsibility -- RockNet is just hosting them.

HTML Considerations

The following are considerations in the use of HTML for the RockNet web pages.

• All of HTML 3.2 and JavaScript 1.1 are valid to use.
• Netscape and Microsoft language extensions may be used but you need to test with both browsers.
• Limit use of Java applets.
• Don't plan to use forms or CGI scripts.
• Limit use of HTML frames.
• Limit use of HTML 4, especially Cascading Style Sheets (CSS).

Design Considerations

The following are considerations for designing web pages for the RockNet site.

• Important information should be toward the top.
• Use tables to position material on the page.
• Maintain lists in alphabetic order or some other rational order.
• No links to "under construction".
• Pages should be able to load quickly. Text and all images should be about 50kb per page.
• Don't advertise compatibility with particular web browsers.
• Limit the use of animated images.
• Limit the use of blinking text.
• Use high contrast between the background and the text.
• Design the collection of pages in an understandable structure.
• Design for 640 pixels wide.

Detail Considerations

The following are a collection of details for consideration.

• Identify the pages as Rockville Maryland - not some other Rockville.
• All pages should have a title tag.
• All pages should have a header that is very similar (if not exactly the same) as the title.
• All pages should have the owner identified.
• All pages should have a "mailto" for feedback to the owner.
• All pages should have a "Last Updated" line.
• Use long form of the date, such as January 15, 2000.
• All pages should have a copyright indication.
• All images should have an alternate text specified.
• Always use height and width parameters in image tags.
• Don't use copyrighted material, such as images.

Template HTML

If you are just starting out to learn HTML, you may want to use the following template to you get started. You can also browse the template to see what it looks like.

    <html>
    <head>
    <title>Your Organization's Name</title>
    <!-- Comments on this page. -->
    </head>
    <body bgcolor=#fffbef>
    <h1><img src="yourlogo.gif" width=200 height=200 alt="Logo">
    Your Organization's Name</h1>
    <hr>
    <!-- Start Dynamic Page Data -->
    <p>
    Introduction to your organization.
    <p>
    The mission and purpose of your organization.
    <ul>
    <li><a href="calendar.html">Calendar</a>
    <li><a href="members.html">Members and Officers</a>
    <li><a href="minutes.html">Meeting Minutes</a>
    <li><a href="newsletters.html">Newsletters</a>
    </ul>
    <p>
    To participate, contact ...
    <!-- End Dynamic Page Data -->
    <hr>
    <i>
    <font size=1>
    Copyright &#169; 2000, Your Organization's Name<br>
    Feedback: <a href="mailto:owner@xxx.com">owner@xxx.com</a><br>
    Last Updated: January 15, 2000<br>
    </font>
    </i>   
    </body>
    </html>